Ella and Anna’s Story: Sisters Running for Recovery, Together!

On 25th May 2025, sisters Ella and Anna Hudson took on the Edinburgh Half Marathon together – not just as a personal challenge, but as a deeply meaningful tribute to the care that helped save Ella’s life.

Ten years ago, Ella was admitted to the Regional Eating Disorders Unit (REDU) at St John’s Hospital in Livingston. As a specialist inpatient unit for people with severe eating disorders, REDU provides intensive care for individuals from across the Borders, Fife, Forth Valley, and Lothian. The Unit’s dedicated staff work tirelessly to support patients through an illness with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.

Looking back, I have no doubt that REDU saved my life,” Ella shared. “I don’t remember much from my time there, but I do remember writing my little sister a card from the ward when I arrived saying, ‘I am safe now’.”

Anna, who was just 14 at the time, remembers the fear and uncertainty, but also the relief that came with knowing her sister was in expert hands.

Even at 14, I understood that it was the care provided at REDU that saved my big sister from Anorexia. Since her discharge from the unit, Ella has built an incredible life for herself. Although the illness will always be part of her story, at the time of her admission to REDU, I would never have believed Ella would get to where she is today; I am unbelievably proud of her.”

Together, Ella and Anna raised over £3,300 to directly to support REDU and the life-saving work that the teams there do every day.
Their motivation was not only personal but also driven by a desire to break the silence around eating disorders:

Eating disorders remain a taboo, even in the current day where so many people, of all ages, are affected in some shape or form. By confronting the ‘forbidden feel’ of this topic, discussions that we have had with family members, friends and colleagues, have shown that so many have felt the pain of watching an eating disorder consume a loved one. We hope that fundraising for the half marathon will contribute even a little to the expansion of care and minimise the fatality of eating disorders.”

Running side by side as sisters and best friends, Ella and Anna crossed the finish line with pride, purpose, and a powerful message: recovery is possible, and support saves lives.